Wollondilly Council is calling on the state government to deliver on the assistance it promised local businesses six weeks ago.
Council says that as the number of new Covid-19 cases worsen, so too does the uncertainty facing more than 4,600 local Wollondilly businesses.
The businesses in Wollondilly have faced many hardships and adversities over the recent years, from floods to bush fires and back to more floods, but none as great as the struggles they are facing with the latest Covid-19 lockdown, says council.
It says that while the NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet announced six weeks ago that support would be available for businesses to help keep them afloat, many Wollondilly businesses are still waiting for this assistance.
As a result, many struggling businesses are turning to council for support as they are yet to see a single dollar from the government-promised support funding.
Council says it is working closely with the local business community to help them connect with the appropriate support.
However there continues to be delays with support payments from the NSW Government which is creating growing fears for the future of many businesses in the Shire.
“Many Wollondilly businesses are still waiting for an assessment and payments from the NSW Government, and they are growing increasingly desperate,’’ says Wollondilly Shire Council mayor Robert Khan.
“This current lockdown is the hardest our businesses have had to face.
“Wollondilly businesses are struggling, they are desperate for financial assistance and many are not sure they will recover from or even survive the current lockdown without the promised financial support.
“If this delay continues, I fear that many businesses in Wollondilly will disappear.
“The NSW Government promised support for businesses so it’s time for them to deliver.”
